2026 ‧ Supernatural Horror/Thriller ‧ 107m
Damian McCarthy’s third feature lives up to the promise of Oddity with the atmospheric and creepy Hokum.
Note: The less a viewer knows about the plot of Hokum the better. Maybe only read the first three sentences of the next paragraph, or skip it.
An American writer, Ohm Bauman played by Adam Scott, is on the cusp of finishing his famous trilogy of books. He finds himself a little blocked with the epilogue. He travels to Ireland to finally spread the ashes of his parents. He stays where they had their honeymoon, The Bilberry Woods Hotel. A quaint, but strange and eerie place. Goats keep hopping on cars and the honeymoon suite is locked up because a witch is in there. After a night of heavy drinking, Ohm does something self-destructive. He is saved by the bartender, Fiona. He awakes in the hospital weeks later, only to discover that Fiona is now missing and Jerry, an affable man Ohm met in the woods, is the main suspect. Ohm finds himself drawn back to the hotel, to find Fiona and to see what is hiding in the suite.
McCarthy is a master of atmosphere, with a very distinct style. He crafts the familiar setting of an isolated hotel and breathes new life into the concept. Fans of hotel horror will no doubt think of The Shining, but ultimately Hokum shares more DNA with 1408. Jump scares are used, but they feel earned and unforced. Eeriness permeates the film early and is sustained throughout. It is not full of dread. There are funny moments that give reprieve but also enhance the mood. It is a excellent example of horror craft.
Those familiar with Adam Scott will see a lot of his usual characterizations, but it fits this story quite well. He first comes off as unlikeable, but the audience quickly gets on his side when things get weird. This is in no small part because Adam Scott knows how to play this kind of character. It feels like perfect casting. The other performances are intriguing as well. Will O'Connell as Alby the bellhop and David Wilmot as Jerry add a fun folky flavor to the folk horror.
Audiences looking for a macabre and moody horror flick will be quite pleased with McCarthy’s third feature. It will be exciting to see what he does next.
Grade: B+
~Andrew